HIT BY FRIENDLY FIRE
What to do when fellow believers hurt you
By Michael A. Milton. EP Books. 91 pages. £4.99
ISBN 978 0 852 347 768
There are many walking wounded who have been badly hurt by other Christians. Some remain in churches, often carrying a chip on their shoulder, while others leave the church altogether.
This is a serious problem and many pastors are themselves among the casualties. In this short book, Michael Milton, of Reformed Theological Seminary, USA, gives great help towards binding up wounds and putting us on the path to wholeness — of turning victims into victors. Using the twin examples of Joseph in the Old Testament who was rejected by his brothers, and Paul from the New Testament who was misused by other gospel preachers (see Philippians 1), the advice is well rooted in Scripture. The author shows us how we must humble ourselves and, trusting in God’s sovereignty in allowing these trials to come upon us, embrace what has occurred as his way of refining our faith and making us more like Jesus, who was betrayed by his disciple Judas.
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What would you think if you received a letter from your church leaders that read like this? ‘Are church members …